Hi Anton, it seems like exciting times for Football Finance Note. Please tell us, what is the investment strategy?

The Football Finance Note (FFN) is listed on the Frankfurt Exchange, protected by the Luxembourg securitisation laws. Each deal is fully secured by guaranteed global income streams from TV broadcasting rights.

We provide investors with a USD entry point for investing into top tier English Football Clubs, whilst providing a reasonable rate of return, not correlated to stock markets and leveraging the recession proof sports industry.

Why did you decide to start FFN?

I decided to start it because I saw a gap in the market – there is an opportunity to provide investors in Asia with a USD entry point for investing into top tier English football in a listed, transparent and cost effective manner. English football is very much an obsession in Asia. If I could provide an access point that offers a reasonable rate of return in a totally uncorrelated manner, it would be a winner! To date, demand for FFN has been off the charts in this part of the world.

How do you keep the momentum going in a volatile and unpredictable market?

Football fans will always be watching the game, so football is largely recession proof. For the FFN, our contracts with the clubs run from six to 24 months. These are largely short term and renewable. It is not correlated to markets or macro volatility, and its rate of return is derived from TV broadcasting revenue, which is growing year after year, making the FFN a very interesting risk/return asset class. But to enjoy consistent, uncorrelated returns, investors into the FFN should hold for a minimum of three to five years.

Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own fund?

Do not start a fund in a crowded sector, unless you have some serious added value resulting in alpha. There is no point going up against the big institutional fund houses, unless your strategy is demonstrably different or has a very visible edge over the rest.

If you were not a fund manager, what would you be?

I would probably still be running my Balearic dance music events company, which was sold in 1996. That or more involved in the many start-up businesses that I help mentor around the world.